Casablanca – Morocco’s agricultural export sector witnessed an unprecedented performance. Fresh onion shipments from the country reached record levels during the 2024/2025 season, marking a dramatic rebound after a difficult year and underscoring the resilience of Moroccan farmers and exporters in the face of climatic and regulatory challenges.

Record-breaking volumes and revenues

According to data compiled by the agricultural analysis platform EastFruit, Morocco exported 64,900 tons of fresh onions between June 2024 and May 2025, generating $238 million in revenue. This represents almost five times the 13,500 tons exported in 2023/2024 and surpasses the previous record of 2022/2023 by 3%. In terms of earnings, the figure is nearly six times higher than the $38 million generated in the prior year, establishing a historic high for the onion sector.

The rapid growth reflects the sector’s ability to bounce back after sharp declines. In 2023, Morocco Foodex—the agency responsible for overseeing agricultural and food exports—had imposed restrictions on onion shipments to West Africa to stabilize the domestic market. This decision, taken amid severe drought and supply shortages in key production areas, cut exports drastically.

The lifting of these restrictions in the summer of 2024 opened the door for a spectacular recovery. By September 2024 alone, exports surged to 14,200 tons in a single month, exceeding the entire volume shipped over the previous season. From that point, Moroccan onions continued to flow steadily to international markets, driving totals to unprecedented levels by the close of the marketing year.

A decade of growth

The current record is the latest step in a long-term upward trajectory. For many years, Moroccan onion exports rarely exceeded 10,000 tons annually. That began to change in 2013/2014, when shipments surpassed the 20,000-ton mark for the first time. By 2018/2019, volumes had more than doubled again, crossing 40,000 tons, before eventually breaking the 60,000-ton threshold in 2022/2023.

While the setback of 2023/2024 interrupted this growth path, the rebound achieved in 2024/2025 highlights both the resilience of the sector and the effectiveness of supportive policies. Between October 2023 and May 2025, the government implemented a seed subsidy program to improve farmers’ access to onion seeds. This measure, part of broader drought-mitigation efforts, played an important role in ensuring adequate supply for both domestic needs and export markets.

West Africa leads, the Middle East emerges

West Africa remains the cornerstone market for Moroccan onions. The region absorbed the majority of exports during 2024/2025, with Mauritania doubling its imports compared to 2022/2023, while Côte d’Ivoire also significantly increased its purchases. By contrast, Mali and Senegal reduced their orders, reflecting shifting dynamics in regional demand.

Beyond Africa, Morocco is breaking into new markets. The United Arab Emirates imported 5,500 tons, accounting for 8.5% of Morocco’s total onion exports, and quickly established itself as the fourth-largest buyer. This breakthrough in the Middle East demonstrates Morocco’s potential to diversify its customer base beyond its traditional African partners.

An expanding agricultural portfolio

Onions now rank as Morocco’s fourth most important vegetable export crop, following tomatoes, peppers, and carrots. This achievement is notable considering the challenges faced by the country’s agricultural sector, from recurring droughts to volatile international demand and regulatory constraints.

The onion sector’s growth reflects Morocco’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a reliable supplier of fresh produce to both regional and global markets. While tomatoes have long dominated Moroccan vegetable exports—particularly to Europe—the onion has carved out its own place as a key driver of revenue and trade diversification.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Morocco’s onion exporters face both opportunities and challenges. Sustaining current growth will depend on continued government support, investment in irrigation and modern farming techniques, and careful management of domestic supply to avoid shortages. At the same time, expanding into markets in the Middle East and potentially Asia could provide additional outlets for growth.

For now, however, the 2024/2025 season stands as a landmark year. By nearly quintupling exports in a single campaign, Morocco has not only set a new record but also confirmed the strategic importance of onions within its agricultural and trade policies.